Hadrian (l. 78-138 CE) was emperor of Rome (r. 117-138 CE) and is recognized as the third of the Five Good Emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius) who ruled justly. His reign marked the height of the Roman Empire, usually given as c. 117 CE, and provided a firm foundation for his successor.
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Definition
Timeline
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76 CE - 138 CELife of Emperor Hadrian.
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c. 100 CEHadrian marries Vibia Sabina.
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117 CERoman emperor Hadrian grants independence to the Kingdom of Armenia.
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117 CE - 138 CERule of the Roman Emperor Hadrian who supports great building projects in and around the Agora of Athens.
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11 Aug 117 CE - 10 Jul 138 CEReign of Roman Emperor Hadrian.
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118 CEHadrian returns to Rome. Execution of the four consulars.
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118 CE - 121 CEBeginning of the works of Hadrian's villa at Tivoli.
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121 CE - 125 CEFirst trip of Hadrian around the Empire: Gaul, Germania, Noricum, Britain, Cappadocia, Galatia, Bithynia, Asia, Greece, Moesia, Dacia, and Pannonia.
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122 CEConstruction begins on Hadrian's Wall.
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123 CEHadrian meet Antinous in Bithynia.
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124 CERoman emperor Hadrian visits Lydia.
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c. 127 CEThe Baths of Hadrian at Lepcis Magna are completed.
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128 CEHadrian visits Sicilia and Africa. He inspects the African army and gives the Lambesis speech.
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128 CE - 134 CEHadrian travels to Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Judea, Arabia, Egypt and goes back via Greece.
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130 CEDeath of Antinous, Hadrian's beloved, in Egypt.
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131 CEThe declining institution of Amphictyony is replaced with the Panhellenion by the Roman emperor Hadrian but survives no longer than a year.
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132 CE - 136 CEThe Bar-Kochba Revolt.
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136 CEAdoption of L. Aelius Caesar by Hadrian.
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1 Jan 138 CEDeath of L. Aelius Caesar.
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25 Feb 138 CERoman Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius as his son and successor, ensuring a smooth transition of power after his death in July of that same year. Antoninus Pius would do the same in adopting Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome.
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28 Feb 138 CEAdoption of Antoninus Pius by Roman emperor Hadrian.
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10 Jul 138 CERoman Emperor Hadrian dies at the age of 62 at his villa near Naples, in the region of modern-Italy, most likely from heart failure, naming Antoninus Pius as his successor and continuing the line of the "Five Good Emperors of Rome" that ended with Pius' successor, Marcus Aurelius.
